election them is and an an “While serving as an officer, these students will have the chance to attend regional and even national conferences,” Bowers said. “Will and Stelley will also have unique opportunities to develop leadership and communication skills while gaining new confidence.”

STEA is affiliated with the Tennessee Education Association and the National Education Association.

The purpose of the program is to provide professional development opportunities for future teachers, help members transition from student to teacher and p r ovi d e s u p p o r t d u r i n g m e m b e r s ’ first five years in the classroom.

B ow e r s said Jones and Carmichael a long-standing tradition at Walters State, which has a highly active STEA chapter whose students are often elected to serve STEA at the state and regional level.

She said taking on leadership roles in the program shows commitment to the profession of teaching.

Growing up, Carmichael attended home school, and she decided to be a teacher after watching her mother.

“Sometimes I was able to teach things to my younger siblings,” Carmichael said. “When you teach someone something new, the student gets so excited. That makes teaching the perfect job for me.”

Jones attended schools in the Jefferson County School System, and he credits several teachers their for influencing him.

“I want to help students in the same way that my teachers guided me. I want to give back as much as I’ve been given,” Jones said.